
Students explore lagoon which they know is teaming with fascinating creatures. Photos by Barbara Johnston
Stars were shining brightly in the middle of the afternoon at Tigertail Beach in April.
Eleven “stars” from Tommie Barfield Elementary School arrived at the beach with their adult tutors in tow to see first hand what lives in the water around Marco Island. Wide eyes and big smiles were seen on faces young and old. This was no ordinary field trip! These second grade students had been working hard all year as part of the “Stars on the Water” afterschool tutoring and enrichment program. The trip to the beach marked a milestone in their progress and success.
This program began five years ago when Father Kyle Bennett, the new pastor at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, suggested a partnership with the public elementary school on the island similar to the one in his former parish in Mississippi. It didn’t take long for representatives from the church to get together with the administration and teachers at Tommie Barfield to see how they could best help young students. The result was a collaborative effort that has provided exceptional academic support to 60 second graders in our community.
Students are

Connor Ragan admires large thick shell of Quahog Clam.
The unique thing about this afterschool program is that in addition to the academic focus of the first hour, each student receives an hour of enrichment every session based on the theme “Marco Island and the Waters Around Us.” Sea Stars, Pear Whelks, Heart Cockles, Horseshoe Crabs,

Evan Rocha picks up a mud crab to share with his group.
Dedicated volunteers from both St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and San Marco Catholic Church have contributed to the success of this program by assisting and encouraging each student in the successful completion of the academic year.” Stars children thrive on the attention from these caring and patient tutors,” Morgan said.
Charlette Roman has been a full-time Marco Island resident since 2002. Certified as a Florida Master Naturalist in both Coastal Systems and Freshwater Wetlands, she leads field trips to Tigertail and speaks to groups about Marco’s unique environment. She is certified in the Department of Education’s Flying Wild program, and served as president of the Friends of Tigertail Beach, Inc. 2004-2007. In 2009, she received the prestigious Collier County Audubon Society Fellowship.
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